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dtohmatsu
Enthusiast I
August 5, 2022

Horrible UI - Still

  • August 5, 2022
  • 66 replies
  • 1907 views

I’ve been using Sonos for 16 years (one of their first users.) I’ve purchased close to 50 Sonos devices.

 

I’ve been complaining about the UI for 15 years. It’s horrible. Performing simple actions like opening the equalizer requires 5 minutes of discovery every time you want to use it.

 

Why don’t the navigation icons at the bottom of the app have labels.

 

Why does the screen for selecting rooms/devices have the title “System”.  Why is the icon in the navigation bar for this function totally unrelated to the function. Why is the setting for Alarms on the screen for selecting rooms.

 

Why are there three separate icons  (search, favorites and browse) in the NavBar for selecting Music.

 

Why are the playback controls hidden in the collapsed now playing screen.

 

Setting up a new AMP…...What kind of imbecile would require a user to input a code into the app when installing a new device that’s written in illegible characters (requires a magnifying glass) on the back of the device, and only let the user know that it’s needed after the unit has already been installed at the back of a rack, under a sofa, or on the bottom shelf of a bookshelf.

 

“How do you want to use Amp”   - It’s not “as stereo speakers”  ….. it’s “with stereo speakers.”  AMP is an amp. It’s not a speaker (or speakers.)

 

In addition, to being a Sonos user, I work as a product manager.  It makes me want to puke every time I use the Sonos app.

 

This has to be the worst UI I’ve ever seen on an app for a well established Comapany

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    66 replies

    Show previous replies
    Kumar
    August 7, 2022

    I have used Sonos via the Sonos phone app since 2011, and if I have anything in this area to be unhappy about, it is the far too frequent changes Sonos makes to the UI look and feel. Users can get used to anything in time, but having to cycle through this over and over is tiresome.

    One unanticipated advantage of staying on S1 is an end to this.

    I supposes this view speaks to my age, but this is just a UI for home audio at the end of the day, not for the latest fighter jet.

    PS: on the other hand, there has been a constant issue in Sonos with the listening experience since 2011 that has not been fixed. In a mixed source playlist, sound levels changes from one track to the next can be even more tiresome. I suppose UI changes are easier to do.

    ratty
    ratty
    August 7, 2022

    I always tell me designers that anytime a user has to scroll that it’s a design failure.

     

    It sounds like someone needs to brew up some coffee. Scrolling on a phone’s diminutive screen is a way of life. 

    Ralpfocus
    Prodigy III
    August 7, 2022

    I am still on s1 where the text is displayed below the icons, which I have to say I like. Can't really see why it has gone on S2, it doesn't really free up much screen estate.

    What does bug me is the fact that you cannot retrieve folder data or any other meta data that is contained in the file. I guess for the streaming services that is down to them, but does the app allow for more meta data?

    controlav
    controlav
    Lead Maestro
    August 7, 2022

    Has the OP even shared what kind of device they are running the controller on? Or S1 or S2?

     

    Primarily S2 on an iPhone, but I started with the CR100 and then CR200. In between I’ve used virtually every release on every device.

    Try SonoPhone then on iOS. You might hate that too, but it will make a change if nothing else.

    Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
    dtohmatsuAuthor
    Enthusiast I
    August 7, 2022

    I always tell me designers that anytime a user has to scroll that it’s a design failure.

     

    It sounds like someone needs to brew up some coffee. Scrolling on a phone’s diminutive screen is a way of life. 

    IME there are two types of users. Ones who are productive and like to get things done efficiently, and ones who are happy to spend their whole day scrolling through TikTok and YouTube videos.

     

    Some of the general guidelines I use in design are.

    1. Every additional action required reduces usage by 10x
    2. Scrolling/swiping/selecting from menus requires 10x the cognitive overhead of tapping.
    3. Parsing/finding unlabelled, unfamiliar, and/or monotone icons is a total waste of user time and completely unnecessary.
    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 7, 2022

    IME there are two types of users. Ones who are productive and like to get things done efficiently, and ones who are happy to spend their whole day scrolling through TikTok and YouTube videos.

     

    Some of the general guidelines I use in design are.

    1. Every additional action required reduces usage by 10x
    2. Scrolling/swiping/selecting from menus requires 10x the cognitive overhead of tapping.
    3. Parsing/finding unlabelled, unfamiliar, and/or monotone icons is a total waste of user time and completely unnecessary.

     

    Do you have any actual data to back up these guidelines, or did you just make them up on the fly?

    dtohmatsuAuthor
    Enthusiast I
    August 7, 2022

    Has the OP even shared what kind of device they are running the controller on? Or S1 or S2?

     

    Primarily S2 on an iPhone, but I started with the CR100 and then CR200. In between I’ve used virtually every release on every device.

    Try SonoPhone then on iOS. You might hate that too, but it will make a change if nothing else.

    I might. Any reason they don’t offer a free trial. If the app is decent, a trial would have a very high conversion rate and might even support a subscription model.

    dtohmatsuAuthor
    Enthusiast I
    August 7, 2022

    IME there are two types of users. Ones who are productive and like to get things done efficiently, and ones who are happy to spend their whole day scrolling through TikTok and YouTube videos.

     

    Some of the general guidelines I use in design are.

    1. Every additional action required reduces usage by 10x
    2. Scrolling/swiping/selecting from menus requires 10x the cognitive overhead of tapping.
    3. Parsing/finding unlabelled, unfamiliar, and/or monotone icons is a total waste of user time and completely unnecessary.

     

    Do you have any actual data to back these guidelines, or did you just make them up on the fly?

    I don’t know. Does watching 1000 video hours of user testing count as data?

    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 7, 2022

    I might. Any reason they don’t offer a free trial. If the app is decent, a trial would have a very high conversion rate and might even support a subscription model.

     

    It's not "they", it's "you".  The guy shilling the app is the author, and the beneficiary of any sales. 

    jgatie
    jgatie
    August 7, 2022

    I don’t know. Does watching 1000 video hours of user testing count as data?

    No. It does not.

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